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Can studying monkeys help experts to better understand banks?

UC Davis researchers say that studying the behaviors in the social networks of hundreds of monkeys allows them to better understand the financial network of banks. They believe there are indicators that can help predict and even prevent financial collapses -- by monitoring key changes.

UC Davis researchers say that studying the behaviors in the social networks of hundreds of monkeys allows them to better understand the financial network of banks. They believe there are indicators that can help predict and even prevent financial collapses -- by monitoring key changes.

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Updated: 8:00 AM PST Feb 12, 2014

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WEBVTT CAUSING A CRASH, BUT IN SOME CASES, THE PILOTS HAVE HAD TO HAND OVER CONTROL TO OTHER PILOTS. PRIMATES SHEDDING LIGHT ON CRIME RATES. HELPING US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE BANKING INDUSTRY. MAYBE EVEN PREVENT A NATIONAL COLLAPSE. IT IS NO STRETCH TO COMPARE THESE -- THE SOCIAL NETWORK AMONG THESE TO THE FINANCIAL NETWORK OF BANKS ACCORDING TO PROJECT SCIENTISTS. WE WERE FOCUSING ON THE HIGHER-ORDER STRUCTURE OF THE SYSTEM OF ITSELF. THEY ARGUE THAT THERE ARE SIGNS, EITHER IN MONKEY SYSTEMS OR THE BANKING INDUSTRY, OF CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSES. AND THOSE COLLAPSES CAN BE PREVENTED. THE SYSTEM IS A LITTLE UNSTABLE AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GET WORSE AND FALL APART. HE WANTED FIND OUT WHAT WERE THOSE FACTORS. THINK ABOUT MONKEY BEHAVIOR LIKE BANK OF BEHAVIOR LIKE OVERNIGHT LENDING OR ISSUING BONDS. THE KEY, RESEARCHERS SAY, IS TO ZERO IN ON THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THOSE BEHAVIORS. THEN YOU CAN LOOK AT HOW THE AFFECTS OF RELATIONSHIPS AMONG MONKEYS OR BANKS AND HOW THOSE AFFECTED THE STABILITY OF THE OVERALL SYSTEM. WITH THE FINANCIAL COLLAPSE THAT HAPPENED IN 2008, EVERYONE WAS INTERESTED IN WERE THERE ANY FEATURES OF THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM THAT WE COULD HAVE INVESTIGATED BEFOREHAND? THE ANSWER TO THE STUDY SAYS

Can studying monkeys help experts to better understand banks?

UC Davis researchers say that studying the behaviors in the social networks of hundreds of monkeys allows them to better understand the financial network of banks. They believe there are indicators that can help predict and even prevent financial collapses -- by monitoring key changes.